Clutch.



No. 796,989. PATENTED AUG. 15, 1905.

G. ENRIGO.

CLUTCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6,1903.

1;; J INVENTOR: c f WITNESSES: 34% 6mm, W

a By Azzomeys,

GIOVANNI ENRICO, OF TURIN, ITALY.

CLUTCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed nuary 6, 1903. Serial No. 138,019.

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, GIOVANNI ENRICO, a subject of the King of Italy,residing in Turin, Italy, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clutches, of which the following is a specification;

This invention has reference to improved speed-change mechanism for atransmissionshaft by means of gear-wheels containinga friction-sleeveactuated by oil or other pressure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents diagrammatically thedevice in question as a whole as applied to motor-vehicles driven by anexplosion-motor by way of example. Upon the shaft B, which is assumed torotate at a constant velocity, are rigidly mounted gear-wheels b b I) ofthe ordinary kind, meshing with special gear-wheels a a a upon the shaftA the velocity of which it is desired to vary. Fig. 2 illustrates one ofthese gear-wheels a in section, and the toothed crown is designated bythe letter a. The arms 0 c of this crown rotate freely upon the hub m,keyed upon the shaft A, which is hollow in order to permit of thedisplacement of a small piston p, so as to apply the pressure of oil atthe desired point. The arms 0 of the gearwheel a present at their innerextremity conical faces f, and opposite to them are situated conicalfaces f of two plates (Z d, which are capable of lateral displacement onthe hub m, but which rotate with it, being connected therewith by meansof the flexible arms 5, which are shown in plan in Fig. 3, but on asmaller scale. Apertures t t, formed in the hub m and in the shaft A,respectively, permit the oil under pressure supplied to the piston 12through a tube 76 to enter between the plates (Z (Z, which are therebycaused to separate, and the conical faces f f coming into frictionalcontact with the faces f f constitute a friction-clutch by means ofwhich the wheel a, receiving movement from the shaft B through the wheelI), Fig. 1, is caused to transmit it to the shaftA by the intermediaryof the plates d d, the arms g, and the hub m. In order to producedisengagement, it is only necessary to relieve the pressure*that is tosay, to displace the piston. The plates (Z are speedily returned totheir initial position, Fig. 2, by the flexible arms 9, which cause themto overcome any pressure still existing, (if the shaft A receivesmovement from another gearwheel,) owing to the centrifugal force of theoil which may remain confined between the plates (Z (Z. The ring iserves to prevent the oil under pressure from escaping between theplates d d when these latter commence to separate.

Having thus described a suitable form of gear-wheel for use inconnection with my invention, I will now revert to Fig. 1. K is thecasing containing oil and in which are inclosed the gear-wheels. At asuitable point 0 is arranged a small pump, taking its supply of oil fromK and forcing it under pressure into the tube is, terminating at thesmall piston go. It will be understood that the pump is kept in constantoperation in any wellknown manner.

In order that the pressure may not exceed the desired limit, the tube 70is also in communication with the casing K by means of a safety-valve s.The valve u is closed by pressing with the foot upon the lever Z. footis raised, the valve 14 opens and permits of the free passage of theoil, which is then no longer under pressure.

In order to produce changes of speed, it is only necessary, as abovestated, to bring the piston 19 in communication with the gear-wheel awhich it is desired to rigidly connect with the shaft A. This iseffected by operating a lever Z.

WhileI have herein described the preferred form of my invention asapplied to a variable gearing, it will be understood that it is notlimited to the form shown nor to this special application. The devicemay be considerably modified and may be utilized for other pur poses-as,for instance, in braking mechanism for vehicles, Sac-without departingfrom the invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. The combination of a shaft, a gear mounted loosely relativelythereto, a non-rotative casing inclosing said gear, a fluid-pressuremechanism for clutching said gear to the shaft, means for supplyingpressure to said mechanism from said casing, and a manually-operatedvalve for controlling said fluid-pressure mechanism.

2. The combination of a shaft, a gear mounted loosely relativelythereto, a non-rotative casing inclosing said gear, a fluid-pressuremechanism for clutching said gear to the shaft, and a pump adapted toforce oil from said casing to said fluid-pressure mechanism.

3. The combination ofa shaft, a gear mounted loosely thereon, afluid-pressure mechan- When the a ism for clutching said gear to theshaft, a non-rotative casing inclosing said gear and adapted to containoil, a pump adapted to force oil from said casing to said fluid-pressuremechanism, and a connection adapted to return oil to said casing.

4:. The combination of ashaft, a gear mounted loosely thereon, afluid-pressure mechanism for clutching said gear to the shaft, anonrotative casing inclosing said gear and adapted to contain oil, apump adapted to force oil from said casing to said fluid-pressuremechanism, a connection adapted to return oil to said casing, and asafety-valve permitting such return when the fluid-pressure becomesexcessive.

5. The combination ofashaft, agear mounted loosely thereon, afluid-pressure mechanism for clutching said gear to the shaft, anon-rotative casing inclosing said gear and adapted to contain oil, apump adapted to force oil from said casing to said fluid-pressuremechanism, a connection adapted to return oil to said casing,and a manually-operated valve for controlling such return.

6. In a fluid-pressure clutch, in combination a chamber for fluid, aconduit having two branches, one discharging into the chamber andfurnished with pressure controlling means, and the other discharging ata point to operate the clutch, fluid from said chamber into saidconduit, and means for controlling admission of fluid-pressure from saidconduit to said clutch.

7. In a friction-clutch, the combination of a shaft, a wheel mountedloosely thereon, two disks mounted to slide longitudinally of the shaft,fluid-pressure mechanism for moving said disks away from each other, anda spring for returning said disks to their normal positions when thefluid-pressure is reduced, comprising a plate having spring-armsconnected v to said disks.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name 1n the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

GIOVANNI ENRIOO. Witnesses:

HUGO FIGGOTTE, FELIX BAZETTA.

means for forcing thev

